Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 4, 1994 TAG: 9403040145
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
That streak ended Thursday when the Kentucky Democrat, too sick to leave his hospital bed, said that for the first time in 40 years he would not be on the House floor when a vote was being taken.
His record of 18,401 consecutive votes has never been approached, and House Speaker Tom Foley said it was a record "I believe will stand forever."
"Obviously this is a sad moment for all of us because of the unparalleled public service of Mr. Natcher," Foley, D-Wash., said in a tribute following Natcher's first missed vote since he was elected to Congress on Aug. 1, 1953. House members gave a standing ovation for their absent colleague.
President Clinton visited Natcher's hospital room Thursday afternoon and presented him the Presidential Citizen's Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian award.
The citation accompanying the medal said, "Few legislators in our history have honored their responsibilities with greater fealty or shunned the temptations of power with greater certainty than William Huston Natcher."
"I'm so proud, I'm so proud of my 18,400 votes," the congressman told the president, who spent almost 20 minutes in his room.
The end came on a simple procedural vote that opened the House session Thursday.
According to the House library, Natcher placed his first vote Jan. 21, 1954 - in favor of establishing an Air Force academy.
His last four votes on Wednesday were his most difficult, with the frail octogenarian, suffering from intestinal and other ailments, being wheeled onto the House floor on a hospital gurney, complete with oxygen and intravenous tubes.
The day before, House leaders had agreed to suspend all legislative action at Natcher's request so the streak could be maintained.
Natcher himself has advised new members against trying to emulate him. "When you've been here as long as I have and never missed a day or vote, it's right around your neck," he once said.
Often it wasn't easy. His wife, Virginia, died in 1991 after 53 years of marriage. When she was very sick, he routinely flew home to be with her and then back to Washington the next day, day after day, in order to hold onto his record. Voting even kept him from making an appearance when President Carter visited his district in 1979.
On Thursday, Natcher issued a statement that, after consulting with his physicians, "I have very reluctantly decided to remain at Bethesda Naval Hospital for continued treatment, and I will not be able to return to Capitol Hill today."
"Throughout my entire public service," he said in a written statement, "I have never missed a single day of work, and during my tenure as a member of Congress, I never missed a day or a vote."
He said that while he will not be able to repeat that feat, "I will try because I believe members of Congress should vote."
Natcher gave no indication whether he planned to retire, and Foley said his decision to stay in the hospital for further treatment was an indication he still hoped to return to work.
But jockeying has already begun for succession to his powerful post as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Among the leading candidates are Democrats Dave Obey of Wisconsin and Neal Smith of Iowa.
Foley's tribute was followed by a dozen other lawmakers speaking on Natcher's career.
"If we could make a prototype of a person to serve in the House of Representatives, Bill Natcher would be that prototype," said Rep. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.
Another Kentucky Republican, Harold Rogers, said that in an age of cynicism Natcher "remained a pillar of rectitude and of admired devotion to duty and made us all proud to serve in this House and be his colleague here."
by CNB